Why has my marijuana case not been automatically expunged?

Since June 2019, Illinois has been in the process of automatically expunging minor cannabis offenses. Many clients have been wondering whether they qualify for automatic expungement. First, the criminal record of cannabis offenses that will be automatically expunged include those that included an arrest, an order of supervision, or an order of qualified probation for an offense committed before June 25, 2019. If your case involved any other outcome, it is unlikely to be automatically expunged, and you must file a petition to expunge or seal. In addition, there must be no sustained charges related to the arrest or interaction with law enforcement.

The current timeline for automatic expungement is:

1.) Arrests that occurred between January 1, 2013 and June 25, 2019, shall be automatically expunged prior to January 1, 2021

2.) Arrests that occurred January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2012, shall be automatically expunged prior to January 1, 2023

3.) Arrests that occurred before to January 1, 2000 shall be automatically expunged prior to January 1, 2025.

The Law Offices of Hannah Garst can answer questions about your record and how to proceed with expungement. Call us at (773) 248-6504 for a free assessment of your case.